A police raid in France Wednesday yielded the death of the alleged brains of the Paris attack - a consequence that some may say is one victory in the fight against ISIS. So, who is Abdelhamid Abaaoud and how did he figure behind the deaths of more than 100 innocent people?
He's Not Unknown by Authorities
"Intelligence agencies had identified him as a link between ISIS leadership in Syria and European terror cells, and he is believed to have moved between several European countries without being apprehended," CNN reported, adding that he is said to be close to the militant group's chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Further, he has been sentenced to 20 years in jail, despite his non-appearance, by a Belgian court in July this year for being "a principal recruiter of European jihadis for Isis, in particular for the recruitment of his own 13-year-old brother, Younes," The Guardian said. However, despite this, he managed to avoid detection.
He Was Educated in Belgium
The 28-year-old was raised in Belgium and educated in Collège Saint-Pierre d'Uccle, an exclusive Catholic school. However, he was later kicked out of the institution, "either for poor grades or bad behavior," The Atlantic noted.
Childhood pals claimed that the "emir of war" had "smoked a lot of cannabis as a teenager and would steal to pay for his addiction," leading to his removal from the prestigious school," The Telegraph said.
He Was Radicalized in Jail
Abaaoud and a childhood playmate, Salah Abdesalam, who is currently on the run for his involvement in the Paris attacks, was imprisoned five years ago for armed robbery. During this stint behind bars, both became radicalized. However, it was only in early 2014 that he joined the ISIS, after moving to Syria, to the dismay of his family.
His Family Wanted Him Dead
Since Abaaoud left for Syria, his family head no update from him. However, in October 2014, they were told he died while fighting.
"We are praying that Abdelhamid really is dead," his sister was quoted by The Atlantic as saying. However, the information was apparently fake, which was allegedly a favorable development for the young insurgent as it allowed him to move around more easily.
"I can't take it anymore," the deceased attacker's father, Omar Abaaoud, said earlier this year. "He destroyed our families. I don't ever want to see him again."
A Woman Led Him to His Death
Police learned that Abaaoud was staying in a safe house in Paris. They were led there, albeit unknowingly, by Hasna Ait Boulahcen, who was the jihadi's French-born cousin, MailOnline said. After hours of exchanging gun fire, the dust settled and found him dead, with his body riddled with bullets and mangled beyond recognition that it took authorities more than a day to confirm his identity based on his remains.
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